Hey Dog Lovers,
Today we talk about the risks of anesthesia in dogs and how to minimize them.
Approximately 1 in 1,000 healthy cats and 1 in 2,000 healthy dogs die under anesthesia each year.
The Anesthetic Process:
- Assessment- determine any specific risk factors or interventions might be helpful to reduce risk for your pet .
- Complications: low blood pressure, shallow breathing, low body temperature, slow heart rate and delayed recovery from anesthesia can be anticipated and planned for during this time
- Pre-Anesthetic medications – provide preventative pain management, reduce stress and minimize the necessary dose of other anesthetic drugs – specifically chosen for your pet by your vet
- IV Catheter – administration of fluids and medications, IV induction of anesthesia which is safer than the mask
- Pre-oxygenation and IV induction – charges the lungs with oxygen and promotes a smooth, controlled transition to unconsciousness
- Endotracheal incubation – tube protects the airway and lungs from accidental inhalation of foreign material such as stomach content, saliva, blood, water, cleaning paste or tartar. Used to maintain anesthesia with inhalant gases
- Maintenance of anesthesia with patient monitoring and support – isoflurane or sevoflurane anesthetic gases are the most appropriate agents for maintenance of anesthesia. Both are equally safe and effective
- Pain management – reducing pain during dental or other procedures. Inject-able systemic pain relieving medications may also be administered while your pet is under anesthesia
- Recovery – anesthetic maintenance ends and the endotracheal tube is removed. They are moved to a recovery cage/are where they can be monitored until they return to normal consciousness
- Discharge -procedural details are discussed, instructions for post op care is explained and medications and distributed.
Questions to Ask your Vet
- Are there any specific conditions or other aspects of my pet’s health that increase their risk for anesthetic complications? And if so, what precautions are you taking to minimize those risks and to deal with those complications should they occur?
- What are the most common anesthetic complications that pets like mine experience while undergoing anesthesia for this type of procedure?
- Can you describe how my pet will be anesthetized?
- Who will be monitoring and managing anesthesia for my pet? What is their experience level and are they credentialed?
- Will my pet’s anesthetist be dedicated to monitoring anesthesia, or will they also be performing other tasks such as cleaning my pet’s teeth or helping out in the treatment room?
- How will my pet be monitored under anesthesia?
- Will my pet be monitored during recovery from anesthesia?
- (dental cleanings) Will you perform radiography (x-rays) to detect potential damage and infection of my pet’s teeth?
- What can I do to make my pet’s upcoming anesthesia and procedure go smoothly and how can I help maximize their recovery?
Knowing how to prepare, what to expect and what questions to ask you vet team will help ease the process and make it as painless as possible for you and your pet.
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